New Ulm weekly review., 1887-08-31
How Kingly Power is Perpet>,
uated in Europe.

uated in Europe.
From the London Spectator.
The world, if not governed by force,
greatly breads force; and among the
group of Princes who rode by the
Queen two will despose at will OF
100000 soldiers actually in bar
racks, while two others not present
will control the movements of ], ,5OO,-
900 more. That is actual power; and
substantial greatness such as belongs
to the heirs OF Germany, Austria, RUS
sia, and Italy refectssa kind OF great
ness on the class, or rather clan, to-
which they all belong. Moreover, the
Princes who will be potentates sus-
tain the Princes who will not be with
their whole strength. Courts settle
rank in, Europe, and the Courts unan-
imously insist that the defendants OF
royalty, even if dethroned, shall
count everywhere first. Not on
" will kings not marry, legally at
all events, outside the clan,
but they exert steady and
effective pressure in favor of restrict
ing all thrones when vacant to the
clan alone. Nothing can be more alb
surd in theory than for a new State
like Belgium or Bulgaria which needs
an organizing chief, statesman, or q
soldier to choose Prince who may
or may not be capable Of, ruling; but
the statemen know well that if they
step outside the clan, European
sympathy will be forfeited" or. in,
plalner words, that the sovereigns.
who move armies will think they are
dealing with dlsagreeable upstarts.
Bernadotta only kept his throne at
the price of turning on his own coun-
try-where he IS still regarded as a
traitor and King Milan, the only
member of an obscure family with q
recognized crown, will probably lose
it for want of the determined protec-
tion that, had he been born within
the caste, would have been afforded
him. That protection was not, it is
true, granted to Alexander Of Batten-.
berg; but, then, the Battenbergs are
hardly royal, and protection to him
might have precipitated the gravest
of all wars. The moment he was gone
the Bulgarians examined Europe
with microscope to find an accept
able Prince; but they knew perfectly
well that their choice was restricted
to those whom the sovereigns recog-
nize as socially their equals" 1t is
that recognition, not birth alone,
which gives the princely caste it's
unique and almost inexplieable place
in Europe; and as long as that recog-
milton continues SO long will that
place be maintained. In other words,
the social privilege of the princely
cast will probably endure as long as
the great monarchies. The greater
kings, beside believing devoutly in the
birth to which they themselves owe
SO much, and which, being an 1nde-
structible as well as incommunicable
quality, releases them from the dam
gers OF rivalry-Prlnce Bismarck for
example, stops short at the steps Of.
the throne find the privileges OF the
clan convenient by enabling them to
prevent all mesalliances, which it is.
now not only a matter offamily pride
but a historic tradition to avoid.
They think it also even more expedi-
ent to limit thrones to princes, nat
only because we all understand our
equals best, but because they thereby
prevent the rise Of soldiers who might
be unmanageable or too successful.
A warrior king within the Balkans
might end the Eastern question as
Hapsburgs. no less than Romanoffss
do not wish it ended. Kings have
had their jealousies before and since the
Hapsburgs killed "the Friedlander''
because he was too successful on their
behalf; and the history OF Napoleon
accentuated their distrust of risen
men.--The Spectator.